TUESDAY July 11, 2023
VOLUME 113 ISSUE 2 www.UniversityStar.com
COMMUNITY ICON
The Sun God:
Behind the man, myth, legend By Brianna Chavez Life & Arts Reporter
Dillon “Sun God” Scott connects with the sun as he listens to music, Monday, August 23, 2021, at Sewell Park.
He's out there at Sewell Park in San Marcos, taking in the sun, the energy and the calm presence of the waters. As he hollers and spins, park dwellers and swimmers look on confused, content or concerned. This is Dillon Scott, or as most people know him, the Sun God. Most Texas State students are very familiar with the tan man in shorts that makes his trek into town for his daily routine. Janie Shives, communication design senior, and her friend Lauren Young, Texas State alumna, went on an outing to Sewell during Shives' freshman year in 2019, where she
saw a man dancing and hollering. At first glance, she was concerned. Young filled her in on the story of the Sun God and the rest was history. "We kind of just sat there and watched him have his fun," Shives said. "I think everybody has their weird way that they like to connect with the universe, and that's his." What many people see as Scott "worshipping the sun" is not exactly the case. Scott said he doesn't worship the sun but rather talks to "Dad," or what he said many people call God. When people come up and ask him questions about what he's doing, he tells them he's connecting to a power greater than himself.
SEE COMMUNITY ICON PAGE 5
"
I'm losing my little self and becoming a part of my higher self. Everybody can do it.
STAR FILE PHOTO
Everybody.
"
- Dillon "Sun God" Scott
BASEBALL
Levi Wells selected by Baltimore Orioles in fourth round of MLB Draft By Carson Weaver Editor in Chief Former Texas State pitcher Levi Wells was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2023 MLB Draft in the fourth round with the 118th overall pick. Wells spent his freshman year pitching out of the bullpen for the Texas Tech Red Raiders, but after transferring to Texas State for his sophomore year, he found success in the Bobcat starting rotation in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. STAR FILE PHOTO Texas State sophomore pitcher Levi Wells (25) In MLB.com’s scouting report of Wells, he put pitches to a Cardinal batter during game four of himself into early round consideration at the start of the NCAA Stanford Regional against Stanford, the 2023 season. Saturday, June 5, 2022, at Klein Field at Sunken SEE BASEBALL PAGE 10 Diamond in Palo Alto, CA.
CLIMATE
SMTX business tips to beat heat By Ezekiel Ramirez News Contributor A heat wave has pushed temperatures to overtake numerous records all across Texas impacting cities and businesses. San Marcos is apart of those cities with record high temperatures. "The summer heat changes the amount of people that have been coming in and out, it is a disrupter in the business, but the heat itself is really hard on a lot of people that just walk around," Hannah Madler, an ice cream scooper at Rhea's Ice Cream, said. Madler explains the effect that the heat has on locals shopping and the concerns she encounters with customers from the point-of-view of an employee. "We've been offering people water from the tap for free. A lot of people that have come in, I feel they're at much more risk for dehydration," Madler said.
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Vegan and Vegetarian Options
PHOTO BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN
San Martians walk past Rhea's Ice Cream, Saturday, July 8, 2023, in San Marcos.
Korean Kitchen
STAR FILE PHOTO
Texas State students walk by the Arch, Monday, August 23, 2021, at the UAC.
EDUCATION
Students reflect on SCOTUS affirmative action decision By Nichaela Shaheen Managing Editor
After the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to remove race in the college admissions process, some students of color at Texas State are wondering what comes next. Others believe this allows for a better alternative. On June 29, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled affirmative action in higher education violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment in the case of Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard with a 6-3 majority. The case was filed in November 2014 after Asian American applicants felt they were being discriminated against in the Harvard University admissions process. Now, race will not be a determining factor. Affirmative action began in 1961 in response to the Civil Rights movement as a government initiative to offer opportunities to historically excluded groups. Texas States Black Presidents’ Council President Megan Lyons believes removing affirmative action is taking a step in the wrong direction.
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The University Star
2 | Tuesday, July 11, 2023
NEWS
Blake Leschber News Editor starnews@txstate.edu
REHABILITATION
Apartments offer new take on sober living charging them $700 a month." Sober living is a step in the recovery journey, and comes after completing rehab. For some going through sober living after rehab, and in some cases jail time too, it can feel like an extension of their punishment. "It's almost like a jail situation. It felt like a continuation of jail," Adams said. "I didn't feel free until after I was out of sober living." Pelletier hopes to create a more relaxed and positive healing environment for residents at The Vibe. Pelletier's main method is trying to foster an internal community. "We're basically trying to create a community of people in recovery," Pelletier said. "If someone is having a real problem, or a real hard time downstairs... there isn't anybody who hasn't been there."
When Adams was going through her sober living she was forced to share a room with two other women. Cramped The Vibe, a new sober living conditions like that are common at apartment complex in San Marcos, sober living facilities across the country, offers a first of its kind experience. but at The Vibe, residents will instead Recently opened, the complex requires share three bedroom apartments. at least one year of sobriety. "There's hundreds and hundreds of Stephanie Ramirez Pelletier, the regular, you know, four or five to a room founder of The Vibe and seven years sober livings, especially in Austin," sober, decided to open the complex to Pelletier said "I want it to feel like you've combat issues she and other people who upgraded your life because that's what have experienced sober living have had, you do when you get sober. Where such as cramped conditions and high you're excited to come home to your costs. nice room and your nice bed." "[The Vibe is] completely different Stephen Flournoy, who works at The from my experiences," EvaLe Adams, Vibe and has helped get the endeavor on who went through sober living in its feet, has been sober for a year now. Austin, said. "In my personal experience He joined Pelletier to try and move the [with sober living] it was all about industry in a positive direction. money. They had three girls living in a "Once you get in it, like you garage they had sort of redone and were have the best intention to get sober," Flournoy said. "Once you're there for three, four or five months you start to notice that this [sober living] sucks because the owners of the sober living are just trying to fill beds." For Pelletier, The Vibe is not only a way to help others, but a step on her and her families path to recovery from addiction. "Earlier this year one of my kids had a stroke from fentanyl. I had set up the apartments for them when they got sober and it's not going to happen now," Pelletier said. "So I just had all this love to give and I didn't know where to put it. This became the new thing we're doing as a family like, to heal, but also PHOTO BY RYAN CLAYCAMP because it's a great city to get sober in." Stephen Flournoy (left) and Stephanie Pelletier (right) work on finding more job Pelletier and Flournoy both hope resources, Thursday, June 29, 2023, at The Vibe. their experiences with sober living, and By Ryan Claycamp News Reporter
the struggle of sobriety has given them the insight to create The Vibe. "They [sober living owners] haven't been through it. It's like they're trying to get rich off it, and make as much as they can," Flournoy said. "That's why I jumped to the door of this opportunity for this because it's refreshing man. It's like above the fray of all this." Pelletier and Flournoy hope that by coming in and changing sober living, that they can reshape the way the industry operates. "The goal here is that because we're the first, we'll set a precedence and fair markets," Pelletier said. To help residents rebuild their lives the team behind The Vibe are hoping to partner with local businesses to offer resources, such as therapy, recreation and jobs. According to Pelletier and Flournoy, one of the major goals for The Vibe is to find low-cost, or even free counseling for residents, in order to connect them with professional mental health resources. "I don't feel like you can have a healthy recovery without counseling," Pelletier said. "No one is born an alcoholic, no, we're born into trauma. Almost all addiction is rooted in mental health or some for of trauma that hasn't been addressed."
Scan the QR code for The Vibe's resources.
ENVIRONMENT
Low level of San Marcos River caused by drought By Blake Leschber News Editor On July 2, San Marcos entered in to Stage 3 of drought restrictions. This decision was a response to low water levels of Edwards Aquifer which impacts many areas of the city, including the San Marcos River. Edwards Aquifer is the source of water for the San Marcos River. However, with the levels of the aquifer dropping, the river is also seeing these same dire effects. "The less water we have in the aquifers the less pressure there is and the less water flow there is into Spring Lake which then affects how much water we see in Sewell Park, City Park and downstream past that," Virginia Parker, executive director of the San Marcos River Foundation, said. According to Robert Mace, executive director of the Meadows Center, this summer is different than most as the flow of the water has dropped significantly compared to past summers. "Right now, the flow is about 76 cubic feet per second and for this time of year our average flow is typically 187 cubic feet per second, so we’re much lower than the average flow this time of year," Mace said. The low levels of the river has dire effects on the ecosystem and the community of San Marcos. One of the aspects of the ecosystem that is being affected is the Texas wild rice, which only grows in the San Marcos River. The rice relies on cool water from the river to survive. The low levels, however, put it at risk. "Upstream we get the cooler temperatures because the water is coming fresh out of the Edwards Aquifer so that’s why we have that 72 degrees year-round because it’s so close to the source of the springs," Parker said. "That temperature is really important for the endangered species. For example, the Texas wild rice only grows within a few miles of the San Marcos springs because it is so dependent on clean and cool fresh water flowing in order to keep it alive." Not only is plant life being put at risk for destruction but the low levels are allowing the presence of unwanted species to grow, one of which is algae. "We have low flows and hot temperatures right now which is algae’s perfect storm," Parker said. "Algae leads to lower dissolved oxygen numbers which isn’t great for the river because in some situations it can lead to fish kills." Humans can also have an impact on the rice as people are walking in the river rather than swimming which can trample the rice and possibly hurt it. Low levels has made river-goers nervous as their footprint is seen more clearly. "I am worried about the river as [the low levels] are taking away the experience of swimming in it because not only do I feel worried about plant life and wildlife, I’m also worried about what’s going to happen if we can’t regain the level that we were at before," Catherine Pasemann, a horticulture junior, said. According to Mace, currently the outlook for river levels over the next few months does not look promising as the levels seem to be likely to stay low, but with changing weather patterns in the future, the river may be able to recover. "The good news is we’ve transitioned from La Niña conditions, which we’ve
been in for the last three years causing warmer and drier conditions, to El Niño conditions, which tend to have wetter than normal conditions," Mace said. While humans can have a negative impact on the river, they are important to ensuring that the river can survive and be kept up with. According to Parker, a balance is needed to ensure that the river is taken care of but not destroyed. "The only way to protect something is for people to love it, so recreation is a great thing," Parker said. "But there is a balance between loving something and then loving it to death… People definitely have an impact on the river and what is living in the river." Parker recommends that while it may be easy to walk on the surface of the river due to the low levels, people need to avoid doing so as it can have an impact on the wildlife. "Don’t walk on the wild rice… it’s endemic to the San Marcos River, it doesn’t grow anywhere else and so we really have to protect it because it is one of the main reasons we have a flowing river," Parker said. Mace also recommends that people treat the river with respect including throwing away trash, strapping down their belongings and not tampering with the life at the river. "Remember that the river is also somebody’s home," Mace said. "You can still have a good time and enjoy the cool water without pulling up plants or digging in the bottom of the river." For more information on the San Marcos River, visit www.sanmarcosriver.org.
PHOTO BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN
Sewell-goers walk in the river due to low water levels, Saturday, July 8, 2023, at the San Marcos River in San Marcos.
Publication Info
Editorial Staff
Trinity Building 203 Pleasant St. San Marcos, TX 78666 (512) 245 - 3487 History: The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University and is published every Tuesday of the spring and fall and once a month in the summer semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. on publication days with a distribution of 3,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung.
Editor-in-Chief:
Managing Editor:
Design Editor:
Carson Weaver stareditor@txstate.edu
Nichaela Shaheen starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu
Sarah Manning stardesign@txstate.edu
News Editor:
Life & Arts Editor:
Opinions Editor:
Blake Leschber starnews@txstate.edu
Haley Velasco starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
Rhian Davis staropinion@txstate.edu
Sports Editor:
Engagement Editor:
Director:
Zaria Jackson starengagement@txstate.edu
Laura Krantz laurakrantz@txstate.edu
David Cuevas starsports@txstate.edu
PIR Director Abbie Taylor starpr@txstate.edu
Digital Products Developer
Creative Service Director:
Sri Naga Sri Govvala starasstweb@txstate.edu
Michele Dupont starcreative@txstate.edu
Copyright: Copyright Tuesday, July 11, 2023. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The University Star are the exclusive property of The University Star and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the editor-in-chief.
Deadlines:
Letters to the Editor or any contributed articles are due on Monday the week prior to publication.
Corrections:
Any errors that are in the pages of The University Star and brought to our attention will be corrected as soon as possible.
Visit The Star at universitystar.com
The University Star
Tuesday, July 11, 2023 | 3
NEWS
Blake Leschber News Editor starnews@txstate.edu
CRIME
Former TXST student arrested in Iconic Village fire investigation By Nichaela Shaheen Managing Editor
30-year-old Jacobe Ferguson, former Texas State undergraduate student, was arrested and charged with arson causing bodily injury and death in connection to the Iconic Village apartments fire on July 6. It's been nearly five years since the fire that killed five; Haley Frizzell, 19, Dru Estes, 20, David Angel Ortiz, 21, Belinda Moats, 21, and James Phillip Miranda, 23, and injured multiple others. Four of the deceased were Texas State students. "Over the past five years, witnesses were interviewed, evidence was examined and laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the origin and cause of the fire," Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Houston Field Division Robert Topper said. "Following exhaustive scientific research at the ATF Fire Research Laboratory, all potential accidental causes for the fire were ruled out and the fire was ruled an arson by [the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives] certified fire investigators." Among the many interviewed during the first 10-day investigation was Ferguson, who according to San Marcos Fire Department Fire Marshall Jonathan Henderson, did not stand out in comparison to others. "[We] really just went back to the beginning of the case. We started to reexamine everything that was documented, mostly in the report of the fire research laboratory, which obviously wasn't available at the time during the investigations wherever the initial interviews took place, obviously close to the time of the event," Henderson said. "I really do think that bringing in Texas Rangers as well as the rest of the team in the very beginning, until a new fresh set of eyes were able to determine different questions, more questions that lead to new information of beings." Multiple witnesses were reinterviewed which led to valuable information that was further corroborated by ATF. "These new interviews led to the task force obtaining an arrest warrant for decoding a person for arson causing serious bodily injury or death and felony of the first degree. This arrest warrant was served by U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force yesterday morning at approximately 6:45 a.m. Ferguson was placed under arrest without incident and was booked at the Hays County Jail," Henderson said. Nov. 30, 2018
July 20, 2018
According to Henderson, no other arrests are anticipated to be made. The investigation remains open as the task force continues its work in the Hays County District Attorney's office. Family members of the victims were in attendance, which included Brian Frizzell, the father of the deceased Haley. "Driving around Hays County, Travis County, Comal County, going to every emergency room and going into every hospital begging for Jane Doe to be your daughter is an absolutely horrendous experience," Brian said. "I can't imagine what everybody else is going through but I would never wish that on any parent or anybody for any reason in the world. Nobody deserves that and five young people who died and the people who were injured on that day certainly didn't deserve to have their lives changed forever."
STAR FILE PHOTO
Workers demolish the burned Iconic Village apartments, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019 on North LBJ Drive. An early-morning apartment complex fire on July 20, 2019, left five residents deceased and hundreds displaced.
October 2022
City officials hold a press conference announcing the arrest of former TXST student Jacobe Ferguson, who was charged with arson causing bodily injury and death.
City fire officials announce the fire was intentionally set and the five deaths had been ruled homicides.
Five people killed, multiple others injured and over 200 residents displaced in Iconic Village fire. Four of the deceased were Texas State students.
July 6, 2023
An investigative team was formed to solve the open investigation.
FROM FRONT EDUCATION
FROM FRONT CLIMATE
“We have taken steps in the negative direction about college admissions. There’s always loopholes for the wealthy and Caucasian populations to get in higher places involving education and work,” Lyons said. “This ruling definitely feels like it was done as another way to suppress the education and success of people of color because now, due to a lot of domino effects that will happen, it will be harder for us to get quality education and jobs.” Texas State is a minority majority serving institution with minority enrollment steadily increasing, according to the Office of Institutional Research. Since racebased admission is ruled unconstitutional, the admissions process for Texas State may shift. Students like Lyons and Texas State's NAACP President Princely Kamanda share the same fears and sentiment. “I feel like it's like a domino effect,” Kamanda said. “This is the start of getting rid of affirmative action that might roll into getting rid of inclusion and diversity programs on campus. It always starts somewhere.” In June, Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill (SB17) that bans diversity, equity and inclusion offices and mandatory diversity training for students and employees at public colleges across Texas. Other students like Natalie Jaimes, a construction science sophomore, believe colleges should consider economic status rather than race. “I came from a low income high school so we didn't get as much as other schools in the district. I really want them to look at that,” Jaimes said. “I'm Hispanic, so, say white schools got more college recruitment, or offered more AP classes, that's the only difference that I think matters.” Vanessa Ibarra, public health senior, suspects there will be a culture change at universities with this decision. “Having a diverse culture is important, especially just because you learn from each other. If you have something in place where it's helping create a safe space or to increase diversity, I think it should stay,” Ibarra said.
The summer heat can also affect customers walking to and from businesses and their cars, as the effects of heat can be felt when traversing long distances outside. "Going to and from work I walk. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes, thankfully, but people that are walking around hours, they're really going to feel that," Madler said. Fortunately for Rhea's, not too many big changes have risen following this extreme heat. The biggest contrast is the demand for water from customers who come in and out. "There are some kids that come by that are pre-dehydrated and there's more people asking for water, but outside of that there hasn't been too big of a change," Madler said. Madler shares her personal tips on dealing with this extreme weather and what precautions should be taken to overcome it. "I'm lucky enough that I work in an air conditioned building, but I try to keep everything I need to do when I'm outside, all my daily activities, I do that in the early morning," Madler said. "We encourage people to stay inside under air conditioning when [the heat] comes out." Located in Downtown San Marcos, the owner of San Marcos Hair Company, Janaa Chrystal shared safeguards she's had to enforce with her employees. "I have made sure everybody stays hydrated, stays out of the sun, do anything that you have to do do it early in the morning, just the normal stuff," Chrystal said. Given that temperature in Texas rises annually, Chrystal has taken personal changes to protect her building and business. "Number one, I make sure we only open our back door so that all the AC doesn't get ripped out," Chrystal said. "I've got my roof, I had it done a few years ago but I had it painted with the white so that it does not break so that it can reflect the heat, I mean I've taken all kinds of precautions." Chrystal said her electrical bill has not been affected despite these hot days. "I do not change my AC, we have ceiling fans and if it warms, it warms up," Chrystal said. "I haven't received the bill from this real hot spell that we've had this year, but even last year my bills remained pretty steady." Staying alert and ahead of issues has always been number one for Chrystal, and she continues to do whatever she can to prevent problems surrounding her business. "Make sure that you have your air conditioning unit looked at twice a year and how it's kept up with," Chrystal said. "Having efficient windows and having an efficient roof, that kind of thing." The summer may be a time to try some new outdoor activities or hobbies, but it is always important to stay safe no matter what. Also located in Downtown San Marcos is Galaxy Cycles, a business that provides bicycle sales and services. "I was really expecting the business to slow down with it being so hot, but it really hasn't," Andy Howard, business owner of Galaxy Cycles, said. "The nice thing is, we've had a lot of higher end customers coming in lately." Galaxy Bicycles has faced challenges before, but have continued to use the same strategy that has never let them down, despite facing high end temperatures. "Our whole strategy is to do a good job at a fair price in a short period of time, and that has kept us going for 15 years," Howard said. Bicycling is a very physical activity that takes place outdoors, so it's important to understand your personal limit and take breaks in between. "Stay hydrated, have the ability to bail out if you have to, don't go too hard, you know, pay attention to the weather if you're someone that gets overheated," Howard said. "Just know your limits and kind of stay inside of them."
Race and ethnicity enrollment at Texas State University
White Hispanic Black International Other/ Unknown
50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Fall 2019
Fall 2020
Fall 2021
Statics from the Texas State Office of Institutional Research
Fall 2012
The University Star
4 | Tuesday, July 11, 2023
LIFE & ARTS Meet Stephen: TXST alumnus leads in bird walks and nature Haley Velasco Life and Arts Editor lifeandarts@txstate.edu
LOCAL WILDLIFE
By Haley Velasco Life and Arts Editor
Right after graduating with a bachelor's degree in geographic information science in the spring of 2011 from Texas State, Stephen Ramirez began leading monthly bird walks in September 2011 through the San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance (SMGA). With nearly 12 years of introducing various birds to hundreds of people in the San Marcos community, Ramirez's love for nature and birds wouldn't be without his time at Texas State. "I started bird watching when I was a student at Texas State," Ramirez said. "I was really captivated by birds and really soaked it all up and I felt compelled to share the experience with the community. When I first started, I would go drive around the state trying to see as many birds as I could. I learned a whole lot in the process so I felt like I had a lot of knowledge that I could share with the local community." As a student at Texas State, Ramirez started his bird watching journey through The Meadows Center and got involved in student organizations including the student chapter of the Wildlife Society. Through these resources and traveling around Texas, he acquired a newfound love for nature and the environment, one that he wasn't able to fully grasp on a few camping trips as a child. Now, Ramirez has found many different birds including painted buntings, ospreys, ladder-backed woodpeckers and so much more all in San Marcos. Ramirez also likes to venture out to different locations every bird walk, with some tours being in the River Recharge Natural Area, the Five Mile Dam, Blanco Shoals and other places.
With the opportunity to meet new wildlife and venture to new places in San Marcos, Ramirez is adamant about keeping the bird walk beginnerfriendly with low expectations in hopes of starting new interests throughout the groups, whether it's 10 attendees or 40. "I always keep a beginner-focus," Ramirez said. "I kind of assume that everyone has been out there for the first time. I also keep the expectations low because you can't really force the birds to show up. Sometimes we'll get really good looks at cooperative birds but sometimes you don't really see much, so I make sure people don't expect that much." Even with the low expectations, many members have been able to expand their love for nature through Ramirez's bird walks. Colton Robbins, a Texas State alumnus, has always had a heart for nature and the environment. After joining Ramirez's monthly bird walks in 2015, Robbins grew to love it so much that he became a co-leader of the bird walks in 2017. Robbins is content with being a helping hand, especially with his knowledge in bird identification as well as having a safe space to spread his love for nature. "My love for nature has always been high, but the bird walks have been a great outlet for me to channel that excitement through," Robbins said. "It's always more fun doing what you love alongside others that are equally as excited, sort of like you've found your people who really get you." Along with being beginner-friendly, Ramirez finds the bird walks important because it created the community that Robbins now values. Not only has it created an inclusive community for
PHOTO BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN
Stephen Ramirez and San Marcos bird walkers explore different bird species on the monthly bird walk, Saturday, July 1, 2023, at the River Recharge Natural Area.
birds and nature, but other skillsets could be mastered through these walks such as sound distinction of different birds. "A lot of bird watching is actually just listening, it could be pretty difficult to learn a sound that you keep hearing and what's making the sound," Ramirez said. "So, being able to provide some sort of rudimentary and fundamental skillsets for people who maybe want to learn more about it or just enjoy the nature around them. That's my main purpose in doing this." Regulars of the monthly bird walks have been able to acquire this skillset as well as acknowledge the importance of protecting nature. Jennifer Bauerkemper, a San Marcos resident, has been on bird walks alongside her husband Tim Bauerkemper since 2018. Through all of these walks, she has overall been able to see the environmental value through the birds and nature she has discovered. "I think it's good because it helps
you see the nature around us," Jennifer said. "It really brings it to your attention and how we want to preserve the environment for all this nature that's around us." Whatever the intention, for people that are interested in bird watching, Ramirez recommends looking in common outdoor areas first. For him, it's always a delightful surprise on what he and other bird watchers may discover. "Whether it's just in your front yard or one of our green spaces, there's so many birds around us all the time," Ramirez said. "We're certainly in a good place to observe, look at birds and find birds. You don't necessarily have to drive around the whole state or do anything crazy like that." The San Marcos monthly bird walks occur every first Saturday of the month, rain or shine. To participate in the monthly bird walks in San Marcos, email Ramirez at stephen@birdsiview.org or follow the Facebook page "San Marcos Bird Walk."
WELLBEING
Students joining TXST organizations and student clubs find impact on mental health and stability By Marisa Nunez Life and Arts Reporter As incoming students approach college life at Texas State, many will face obstacles such as being far from home, making new friends and discovering new passions. A lot of these big changes can interfere with a student's mental health which is why local adult therapist, Jenn Popovich, owner of Hiatus Wellness, believes it is vital for students to find a support system. “College is full of transitions, you know, there's the initial transition and then the transition out and then all the things in between,” Popovich said. “What we know from data is people who are the most resilient, which means people who are the most able to experience a stressor or change and keep functioning pretty well, are people that have support.” Popovich believes that upon entering a new environment such as Texas State, students should find a community, organization, place or club to help them navigate and cope through the stressors that come with the transition to college. “The less support you have the less aware you are, the more isolated we get, the more our thoughts become fact because there's no one else talking to us about it," Popovich said. "It's easy, say something in front of a friend and they go, 'But that's not true'... we can really get in our heads and start believing that the way we feel is truth.” Madison Kinerd, psychology senior, found it hard to find friends and people to talk to during her first year at Texas State. Due to COVID-19, Kinerd wasn’t on campus which made it even harder for her to make connections with others.
Coming back to campus her sophomore year, Kinerd was set on finding the right community for her. After checking out an Environmental Conservation Organization (ECO) table on the quad, she decided the organization was the perfect match for her. Kinerd is now the President of ECO. “I really wanted a community but it was also because of what we do in ECO,” Kinerd said. “We're really big on conservation and just keeping the planet clean and green and I love the Earth... it was perfect for me and it is where I’ve met a bunch of my friends too.”
ILLUSTRATION BY MEAGAN WALTERS
Being in ECO, Kinerd has been able to find a support system through the ECO community and has gained a lot of self-confidence since her sophomore year to talk to others. She believes it is super important, not just for incoming freshmen, but for all students to find a place on campus that benefits them the way ECO has her. “I think especially in college, it gets super hard, mostly because you're away from home and it's a whole new environment,” Kinerd said. “So having people around you to support you and just kind of talk to you all the time, while you're doing school, which
gets really tough, is super influential, and it has a huge benefit on your mental health.” Prior to coming to Texas State, Elizabeth Canchola, international studies senior, grew up in the small town of Mission, Texas, which made adjusting to a larger community a bigger challenge. After a friend dragged her along to join the Korean Culture Club (KCC), Canchola found college easier to handle and a place to call home. "The first week here I had at Texas State was really hard just because I wasn't putting myself out there," Canchola said. "I was just in my dorm cooped up sad and lonely, thinking about how much I missed home. But as soon as I put myself out there and I joined this club it just made life a lot brighter." Canchola has now made life long friends who share similar interests with her. The KCC is a place where Canchola feels she can express herself free from judgement and is grateful to have found her own smaller community within Texas State. "One of the easiest ways to make friends and to really adjust to college life is to enter an org or join an org," Canchola said. "[Organizations] are a great way because you know that you're already going to have like a common interest with others, so it's just a really simple way to click with people." There are also several communities outside of Texas State that students can join, whether that's getting a local job or joining an outside organization or group. Many clubs and organizations are always welcoming more members. Incoming and current students can find their place on campus by walking through The Quad on campus or through the Texas State student involvement page at studentinvolvement. txst.edu/.
The University Star
Tuesday, July 11, 2023 | 5
LIFE & ARTS
Haley Velasco Life and Arts Editor starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
FROM FRONT COMMUNITY ICON Blaine Tamez, Texas State alumnus, knows that when the sun is out, so is the Sun God. He said he believes the Sun God really gravitates toward Sewell because of the good energy that surrounds the area. "With the sun, the people and the waters, you can channel that energy into anything," Tamez said. "I think that's why he stays there pretty often." Scott has a deep connection with San Marcos. As a kid, he said he visited family members in town and swam at one of the three pools available at Sewell Park. As a young adult, he attended then Southwest Texas State for a brief moment in time. With a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin, Scott moved to Houston to work for the Shell Oil Company. For years he said he struggled with drug and alcohol dependency issues. In 1996, he had a spiritual awakening and realized how bad it was on his soul. "It shuts down your spirit and your soul. It's an ego thing," Scott said. "But when I stopped that, my soul started coming out." In 1999, Scott returned to San Marcos to stay and take care of his elderly mother. Since then, he said he's evolved quite a bit. He now lives in a cabin, where he takes care of Sweetie, his indoor cat who he loves tremendously, and other cats around his property. He does some errands before he starts his walk to Rio Vista Park and makes his way into town, where he will work out and do "his thing" at Sewell. Music is what moves Scott, especially EDM and trance music. He said the steady beats and the bass bring him back to a time before words when people came together and danced in groups to a beat. He listens to artists from around the world and even local artists like Siena Rea, an electrical engineering senior. "What is so wonderful is that the artist can be
from Russia or South America. It doesn't matter," Scott said. "It's all the same music and all the same artists, you know, are like-minded in that way."
ILLUSTRATION BY MEAGAN WALTERS
When Scott was introduced to EDM, the music went from his head to his heart and then his hands. When he first started moving the way he moves out in public at Sewell, he said he was a little self-conscious at first, admitting that his ego-driven mindset at the time made him feel that way. After a while, he began to let go and become invested in what he does. "I was too much into what I was doing to even care," Scott said. "I don't even know if there are people around me sometimes. I'm so lost."
Scott said he doesn't talk candidly to a lot of people because he doesn't know where they're coming from. However, the San Marcos community has grown to appreciate Scott for being an open ear to help them with school, relationships, tough times and more. Shives said although she has never spoken to the Sun God personally, she feels the good vibes from him whenever she sees him out at Sewell and that he embodies the spirit of Texas State, which leaves a great impact on students. "He's here to have fun and just be nice to people, because I don't think I've ever heard of someone having a bad experience with him," Shives said. "I think he's just here to be a nice person." Tamez said that most universities have an icon of sorts and Sun God definitely takes the role proudly. Although he said that the lore and talk of San Marcos icons has decreased in the past couple of years, he believes everyone should go out to see the Sun God at least once. "If you haven't experienced seeing the Sun God, go experience it," Tamez said. "And that goes for a lot of things in life." Scott knows that he may seem different to others, but whenever a kid waves back at him or a student comes up to him and asks questions, he feels good inside. He appreciates people "putting up with him" and having an open mind. "If we can all become childlike, we can enter the new kingdom," Scott said. "It's not the kingdom of heaven. It's the kingdom within each and every one of us." To learn more about Dillon Scott and to check out the River Trilogy, Scott's spiritual fantasy series, go to rivertrilogy.weebly.com.
HEALTH
Exertional heat strokes: Its signs, effects, recovery and avoidance By Carlene Ottah Life and Arts Reporter In the summertime, San Marcos has an increase of people outdoors during the day. From sporting activities to live events, there's always a way for both residents and visitors to spend their time in the city. However, this comes with the risk of being exposed to high temperatures, especially during summer's later months. Kevin Miller, athletic training professor for the Department of Health and Human Performance at Texas State, researches exertional heat strokes (EHS). EHS is when a person's core body temperature surpasses their ability to dissipate heat during exercise in hot weather. This is different from exertional heat exhaustion, where the body has not gone over 104 degrees fahrenheit. "Texas has the most heat-related deaths in the United States," Miller said. "This is an area that really struggles with high environmental temperatures and humidity and could really benefit from some research on the topic." Miller has treated someone experiencing EHS at the 50th annual Falmouth Road Race in Massachusetts last August, a seven-mile point-to-point race with over 10,000 runners. Miller joined an interdisciplinary medical team to provide aid and perform research. The team confirmed over 30 participants' body core temperatures over 105 degrees fahrenheit. "Falmouth Road Race can be completed anywhere between about 45 minutes to an hour and a half," Miller said. "Because people are running faster, they're burning more energy and because they burn more energy, they create more heat."
The medical team took the identified runners' body core temperatures rectally, then treated them to 50 gallons of cold-water immersion tubs until their temperatures were back to normal. Most of the runners went home the same day, none of them with negative aftereffects. Rectal thermometers are the most accurate way to check someone's body temperature. Checking other body parts, such as the mouth or armpit can underestimate a hyperventilating person's actual internal body temperature. "Somebody with exertional heatstroke might have a body temperature rectally of 108, but if you were to take their temperature with oral temperature, they might show you a temperature of 100," Miller said. "If a clinician, like an athletic trainer, were to see that, they would then treat you very differently in order to lower your body temperature than if they saw that you had a dangerously life-threateningly high body temperature." Ice packs to cool the body have proven ineffective, but they can be used while preparing a large body of water. Miller recommends putting their bodies in as much cold water as possible and keeping their heads above water. This can be done with a nearby river, kiddie pool or garbage can. EHS can be very survivable if treated with precaution. Still, due to slow or improper treatment, those chances decrease over time depending on how long the body stays at or above 104 degrees. If any longer than 30 minutes after a person's collapse from EHS, cells start to break down. The person will experience liver and kidney damage before cardiac arrest. Dr. John Tully, system emergency department medical director of Baptist Health System in San
INFOGRAPHIC BY MADISON WARE
Antonio and New Braunfels, treats five to six patients a week with a heat-related illness. He suggests to avoid EHS, stay hydrated enough while outside. "Normally, people recommended that for a normal male, about a gallon a day of water is what is recommended by the CDC and for females, about three quarts," Tully said. "[If ] you're having to work or be outside for a long period, the CDC recommends having eight ounces of water every 15 minutes or about quarter an hour while you're exposed to heat." To learn what else the CDC recommends to avoid heat strokes and heat exhaustion, go to www.cdc.gov/orr/ infographics/ast-heat.htm.
PUBLICATION
TXST professors combine education and art with the Borderland Collective's new book By Benjamin Middleton Life and Arts Reporter In 2007 during a road trip across West Texas, Jason Reed, an associate professor of photography and the Jones Professor of Southwestern Studies, and his friend Ryan Sprott, an educator who was at the time based in Big Lake, Texas, wanted a way to explore and better understand the land they grew up in through their respective fields.
ILLUSTRATION BY SARAH MANNING
Through these ideas, they founded the Borderland Collective, a project combining art and education to explore
the border and the people who live there. In the following years, Borderland Collective has made 11 unique projects. To archive and display the group's different projects, several collaborators worked together to create the book "Otherwise, It Would Be Just Another River: Ten Years of Borderland Collective’s Practice in Collaboration and Dialogue." Borderland Collective’s first project took place in Big Lake. The project gave 12 of Sprott's students at Reagan County High School cameras and tasked them to explore the culture of their town through a camera lens. Due to the success of the Big Lake project, the Borderland Collective continued the method of teaching students the epics of different projects, giving them a camera and letting them make art about the subject. “In youth projects, you hear this idea that the institution is empowering youth. And we've always tried to think of it in the reverse,” Reed said. “The youth are empowering the public to see what their worlds look like, and so if you give cameras to young people, especially the groups that we're working
with… they're going to have access to things that nobody else sees." The conversation to create a book documenting the work of the collective first started in 2018. The collective chose to switch the angle of the book after running into many walls with publishers. The original idea to be educational switched to archiving and displaying art made. In 2020, they started talking to Spectre Publishing in Leipzig, Germany, who then helped turn the book into reality. After finding a publisher, Reed enlisted Texas State art and design professor Molly Sherman to be the designer and co-editor of the book. After about a year of them compiling the stories of the collective, "Otherwise, It Would Be Just Another River: Ten Years of Borderland Collective’s Practice in Collaboration and Dialogue" was published in October 2022. Due to the book being printed in Belgium, it was not available to American audiences until May 2023. During the design process, Sherman was inspired by the idea of combining two seemingly opposing characteristics. The font she used was simultaneously
flowy and rigid to represent the melding of cultures around the border. The page layout is also inspired by the land itself, the images cutting into blocks of text similar to how rivers bend and flow. "All of these signatures of the book form the words 'Borderland Collective,'” Sherman said. “In forming this really dynamic space that brings together a multitude of voices.” Another thing that makes the book stand out is that it is bilingual, having Spanish on the pages on the left and English on the right, with the spine separating them down the middle. This was done to honor the culture of south Texas and to ensure that every participant and their families could read the book. Scan the QR code to read the rest of the story.
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OPINIONS
Rhian Davis Opinions Editor staropinions@txstate.edu
Opinions in The University Star are not necessarily those of our entire publication, Texas State University’s administration, Board of Regents, School of Journalism and Mass Communication or Student Publications Board.
MUSIC
Start appreciating local live music, find your outlet By Rhian Davis Opinions Editor Live music is a large part of what makes living in Texas so enjoyable. With events like Austin City Limits and the SXSW music festival, it’s hard for music lovers in the San Marcos area to get bored. Live music has a great history, and part of that history can be found in San Marcos and in other areas around the hill country. Cheatham Street Warehouse, first opened in 1974, is just over a mile away from Texas State University. Songwriter Jim Finlay and newspaper columnist Jim Cunningham leased the property and set out to transform the once rundown grocery warehouse into something remarkable: a dance hall. The hall has since been home to incredible and well-known names, such as George Strait, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Randy Rogers. After Finlay passed in 2015, Rogers purchased the hall and has since been able to keep the dream alive. Gruene Hall is the oldest dance hall in Texas and is another amazing spot for live music that isn’t too far from campus.The hall was built in 1878 and was originally intended to host weekly dances, though it is now known for being a host to performances from artists such as Willie Nelson and Arlo Guthrie. The hall now has live music every single day, including
shows that are completely free. Music is an incredible thing that has the power to bring people closer together. San Marcos and other surrounding areas have a plethora of local talent just waiting to be heard. Supporting live music and small artists is incredibly important. Listening to local artists is a great way to get involved in a community that may be new to you. While it is fun to go to huge concerts put on by globally known artists, the experience of discovering a small band right where you live is a feeling that can’t be topped. Supporting these artists while they’re still relatively unknown helps them get their feet on the ground and it aids in growing the local music scene. Local shows are usually cheaper than large concerts, which can benefit college students who are trying to have fun while saving money. In addition, live music was proven to be a stress reliever in a study that showed a drop in cortisol, the “stress hormone.” Going out and listening to live music is a great way to kill time and hang out with friends or meet new ones. If you find yourself questioning what to do this summer or throughout the school year, find a show to attend because it might end up being your new favorite hobby. -Rhian Davis is a journalism sophomore
ILLUSTRATION BY MEAGAN WALTERS
COMMUNITY
The San Marcos Police Department cannot govern itself By Kien Johnson Opinions Contributor In February, San Marcos became the first city in the country to repeal a police contract, meaning the city revoked many privileges afforded to the San Marcos Police until a new contract was drawn and signed. This decision came after the activist group Mano Amiga attracted the attention of the San Marcos City Council, which handed down a decision to the city’s police department nullifying the previously enacted meet and confer contract by June 7. Founded in 2017 as a response to raids by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Mano Amiga became a local organization dedicated to helping specifically undocumented migrants living in Hays County. Since its founding, Mano Amiga has extended its efforts to broader criminal justice reform. Earlier this year, the organization challenged the standing police contract between the City of San Marcos and San Marcos Police Department (SMPD), citing that notable reforms supported by San Marcos constituents were missing from the current agreement. After collecting over 1,300 signatures and rallying the city council to their cause, the city repealed the contract in February. However, this victory would prove to be brief; the efforts put forth by Mano Amiga were all but ignored during the drawing of a new police contract. This shows an alarming attitude of not only the police department but the local government as a whole. Constituents should not have to put up a fight for their government to treat them fairly and transparently. In the context of Mano Amiga's requests, what was presented as a progressive police contract could not even be considered a concession. None of the reforms presented by those working with the organization were included in the new contract. Activists with Mano Amiga cited their primary concerns with the contract
ILLUSTRATION BY EVA BOWLER
to lie with what they call the Hartman Reforms, named after Ryan Hartman, the San Marcos officer responsible for killing a woman and injuring another while driving impaired, of whom the surviving woman partnered with Mano Amiga to have the city repeal the contract. Proposals such as ending the infamous “180-day” rule, closing the two-day misconduct interview delay, suspending or ending thirdparty arbitration and ending vacation forfeiture in lieu of suspension are some of the major reforms demanded by Mano Amiga. The 180-day rule in Texas police departments describes a set of policies targeting police misconduct. The rule acts as a light statute of limitations on officer misconduct. In most cases, the department has 180-days to investigate the wrongdoings of an officer or that officer will continue working on the force. The policy in most police
departments stems from a standardizing of figures. Most policies work in units of 180-day periods, so the number itself is quite arbitrary. The 180-day rule was the primary target of the reforms, given that the San Marcos police chief cited the rule as the reason Hartman could not be charged or investigated, but that remained virtually unchanged. The rule still provides a 180-day statute of limitations on when a police officer can be investigated for a non-criminal infraction or sexual harassment. It incentivizes officers to “wait out the clock” until the investigation cannot take place. The revision is a solid step in the right direction, but a far cry from being effective at curtailing police misconduct as it exists today. Despite the efforts put forward by Mano Amiga, none of the Hartman reforms were included in the new police contract. There were positive changes made to the contract, but they were
either redundant or watered-down versions of the Hartman reforms which did not address the problems Mano Amiga brought forth. Some of the reforms, such as the extension of the 180-day investigation period to 360-days for some types of misconduct, show promise with future contracts, but as they exist now are not effective enough at holding officers accountable for their actions. The reforms proposed by Mano Amiga would likely prevent another officer from appealing their case or avoiding criminal charges like Hartman did, whereas the current provision (a “360-day” rule for criminal charges only) would allow for a repeat Hartman situation. Critics of this perspective may point out that the Texas code for the local government all but mandates the 180day rule. While this is mostly true, local government code handed down from the state in question and not ruled on by a higher court is rarely unchangeable and falls primarily into the hands of the city and county until legally challenged. Closing loopholes and honing in on policy abuse is at the center of the movement to reform SMPD. These types of reforms are uncomplicated, legally defensible and supported by the majority of the population. The San Marcos Police Department has a long history of making mistakes when investigating its own and being opaque when it comes to accountability, especially regarding the Hartman investigation. Mano Amiga’s requests should be honored and a new contract drawn up by the city to reflect the will of its constituents. -Kien Johnson is a sociology sophomore The University Star welcomes Letters to the Editor from its readers. All submissions are reviewed and considered by the Editor-in-Chief and Opinion Editor for publication. Not all letters are guaranteed for publication.
GOVERNMENT
Texas' attack on books does not effectively protect children By Faith Fabian Opinions Contributor
ILLUSTRATION BY MEAGAN WALTERS
The battle against censorship is a human rights issue that has been ongoing for many years. However, when it comes to recent legislative policy, it can feel as if Texas is reversing time. On June 13, Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 900 (HB 900), a bill that aims to restrict and ban certain books within school libraries. Overall, HB 900 works to attack books that are “sexually explicit". However, the bill makes an inefficient attempt to protect children and instead teeters on the edge of censorship. Vague language, Texas precedent and impediments on school librarians are all attributes that make the bill controversial. Legislators say book bans and restrictions will protect children, but in order to serve the children in Texas, legislators must stop appealing to a minority voice that calls for school libraries to be upheaved. The language of the bill is one of the principal causes of concern. The bill makes two distinctions that will contribute to a rating system that must be executed by book vendors before selling to libraries.
These two ratings are “sexually explicit” and “sexually relevant.” Sexually explicit is defined in the bill as books that are “patently offensive” or violating “current community standards of decency”. Sexually relevant is defined as books that contain sexual content, but adhere to school curriculum. Books that are deemed explicit will be taken off the shelves, while sexually relevant books would require parents' permission to read. -Faith Fabian is an English sophomore
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STAR SNAPS
A group of river floaters pass under a bridge, Saturday, July 8, 2023, in the San Marcos River in San Marcos.
A local cyclist manuevers through a crowd of tube renters, Saturday, July 8, 2023, at Lion's Club Tube Rental in San Marcos.
Bystanders watch from the river and from the walkways as a person jumps from an overhead tree into the river, Saturday, July 8, 2023, at Sewell Park in San Marcos.
Groups of river floaters make their way down the San Marcos river, Saturday, July 8, 2023, in San Marcos.
A volleyball match reaches game point as a group of park goers compete in a game, Saturday, July 8, 2023, at Sewell Park in San Marcos.
ALL PHOTOS BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN
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SPORTS
David Cuevas Sports Editor starsports@txstate.edu
FROM FRONT BASEBALL “Projected as a reliever when he was a prepster, he now looks like a four-pitch starter with a bulldog attitude,” Wells’ scouting report on MLB.com states. After finishing his 2022 campaign with a 3.07 ERA, Wells frequented the Friday night starter role in the 2023 season, where he finished with a 5.02 ERA. Wells started this season strong, twice earning Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week and once earning Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week, but Wells allowed 26 earned runs in his last six starts which ballooned his season ERA to nearly two runs above his total last season.
Despite that lackluster finish to an otherwise solid college pitching career, Wells’ raw stuff and presence on the mound was enough for him to be selected in the fourth round of the MLB Draft.W While the first round was headlined by names like LSU teammates Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews, the MLB Draft is far less predictable than that of other sports. A non-first round draft pick, like Wells’ fourth round selection, is not always representative of talent levels; MLB Hall of Famers Jeff Bagwell and Rickey Henderson were both selected in the fourth round of their respective draft classes.
TRACK AND FIELD
Trio reflects on outdoor championships By David Cuevas Sports Editor The 2022-2023 season concluded for the Texas State track and field team June 10 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Austin. The season’s end can be seen as a bittersweet moment, serving as the final chapter of one Bobcat legacy and just the beginning for two more. Redshirt senior sprinter Sedrickia Wynn, freshman thrower Elisabet Runarsdottir and freshman long jumper Chris Preddie were the athletes representing Texas State at the NCAA Championships. This was the highest number of athletes Texas State has sent to the event since the 2017 season. All three athletes reflected on what it was like earning the right to compete on the grandest stage in collegiate outdoor track and field. “Making it to nationals was awesome,” Preddie said. “Cool experience. Used to watch it as a kid so being there was really different.” For Wynn, this was her very first trip to the NCAA Championships in her Division I career. She said the experience was different than what she had become accustomed to. “It’s [Nationals], a place I’ve never been before, so basically it’s the best competing against each other so it was a whole different scene,” Wynn said. While the trio of Bobcats all earned All-Americans honors for their respected performances at the Championships, Runarsdottir was the only one to be named a first-team All-American.
PHOTO COURTESY OF TEXAS STATE ATHLETICS
Texas State freshman long jumper Chris Preddie leaps in the air during the men's long jump competition at the NCAA Outdoors Track & Field Championships on Wednesday, June. 7, 2023 at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin.
Runarsdottir set a new personal best record with a toss of 66.98 meters/219.9 in the women’s hammer throw competition to finish in seventh place. Her throw was 10th best in Texas State program history. Runasdottir said it was a great feeling to be named a first-team All-American as a freshman. She also credits the level of stress she endured during her event due to being in the first of two groups. “I had to sit and wait for the second group to finish. That was really stressful because I had to wait and hope that I would advance,” Runarsdottir said. “The stress boost really helped me get in the right mindset of telling myself, ‘I need to do better to get to the podium'... I decided I had to do my absolute best and put it all out on the field and that’s what I did. I’m really proud of how that competition went.” Preddie said despite only being a freshman he came into the season with lofty expectations for himself including making it to the NCAA championships. “No matter what I do I want to win,” Preddie said. “Coming into outdoor, even indoor, I was like, ‘What do I have to do at practice every day to be able to win?’ So, making the NCAA Championships I wanted to do it. I knew I could.” For Wynn, the NCAA Championships marked the end of her five-year collegiate career. Wynn said the emotions of running what may be her final race were bittersweet. “I was happy that I was there but at the same time kind of upset that I didn’t make it to the next round,” Wynn said. “But when I got back to the hotel that day, I just thought about how my season went and I was lucky to be one of the top 24 people in the nation to actually make it here in my last meet... I cried a little bit.” Wynn, a five-year collegiate veteran having begun her career at Highland Community College in Highland, Kansas, has put her stamp on the Texas State track and field record books with an illustrious resume highlighted by five gold medals. “It means a lot to me because I’m the type of person who likes to leave something for someone to remember and to make history and leave a legacy for myself,” Wynn said. Wynn is uncertain what the future holds for her after graduating from Texas State this summer but said she still has a strong desire to continue running. “I grew a passion for [track and field]. It’s not something I want to give up right now but if it’s time to hang up the spikes then it’s time to hang up the spikes,” Wynn said. All three athletes share the belief that the collective success of the 2022-2023 team along with their individual All-American honors at the Championships could bring more awareness and attention to the sport of track and field which is often overshadowed by more renowned sports such as football, basketball and baseball. “Throughout the year this class this group did a good job of bringing exposure to the sport making it entertaining for people to watch,” Preddie said. “You don’t really see track and field on your social media but now especially this year content creators of the sport, brands they’re bringing a lot of attention to it and it’s just going to continue to grow.”
SOFTBALL
JJ Smith: Setting an example through quiet confidence By Brendan Fielding Sports Reporter With fierce dedication and highlevel experience, senior utility JJ Smith came to Texas State prior to the 2023 season in search of a new home. Since her arrival, she has shined through her qualities both on and off the field. Smith's talent was well recognized during her time at The University of Texas, where she was awarded Big 12 Freshman of the Year in 2021 and played in consecutive NCAA Tournaments and the 2022 Women’s College World Series. However, Smith chose to enter the transfer portal following her sophomore season to find a new environment for the final years of her collegiate career. Within days of putting her name in the portal, she committed to Texas State. After transferring, she began to create strong bonds with her new Bobcat teammates through her passion for the game and quickly became a locker room leader by setting an example through hard work. “If I had one word to describe JJ, it would probably be passionate,” senior pitcher Jessica Mullins said. “She is very passionate about the game and she’s going to let you know.” Since her arrival at Texas State Smith has thrived and become a wellrespected teammate through her strong work ethic and superlative dedication. Although she may not be the most vocal leader on the field, she has earned herself a powerful voice through these qualities, according to Mullins. Smith said that moving into her senior season, she feels encouraged to take on a more verbal role on the field. For the time being, however, a conversation to put an anxious teammate at ease is never out of the question. "People still do look to me whenever times are rough or whenever they're looking for answers," Smith said. "I think this year I'm really going
to focus on just communicating with the younger kids, just having fun with them, trying to ease the pressure off them as much as I can." Smith quickly planted her feet in the culture of Bobcat softball, but the connections she developed with her teammates were years in the making. “I was lucky enough to know several of the girls on the team already,” Smith said. “I think the relationships that I’ve already kind of built and I wasn’t even on the team yet was a huge thing.” Throughout her time growing up playing softball in east Texas, she became familiar with many faces on the current Texas State roster and said she valued these connections before deciding to become a Bobcat. Now that these bonds have tightened, Smith radiates a positive appreciation for her teammates. "There's not one of them I can't just call up and be like 'Hey, can I talk to you?' or 'Hey, can you help me with this?'" Smith said. "All of them will come rushing, you know, they're just very, very kind people." Head Coach Ricci Woodard said that Smith transitioned into Bobcat culture rather smoothly, and added that her ability to be malleable in a new program is not something you see every day. “A lot of people that transfer in, or that are freshmen, are quiet at first and I didn’t feel like she had to go through that quiet stage,” Woodard said. “She kind of jumped right in and you could tell [she] felt comfortable on the field right away.” Smith's appreciation for aspects of Bobcat softball doesn’t stop at personal connections. She said that, compared to softball at The University of Texas, Texas State encourages a more intimate bonding experience through its smaller atmosphere and more cutthroat stakes when it comes to reaching the postseason. “I just think there’s more of a bonding and a team-fight aspect at Texas State,” Smith said. “We all got to
come together from game one all the way until game 60 of the year because even if we take just one game off, that could cost us going to the postseason.” In her first year as a Bobcat, these values and qualities proved fruitful for Smith as she became acclimated to the competitive Sun Belt Conference. While maintaining a positive leadership role on the field, Smith charted the most walks and the least number of strikeouts in the 2023 Bobcat lineup. Woodard said her plate discipline was an attribute that is scarcely found. “She walked 25, 26, 27 times this year, which for a power hitter type of person, that’s not normal,” Woodard said. “I thought she did a really good job of being patient and tried looking for good pitches to hit instead of just [trying] to get hits.” Outside the batter’s box, Smith’s leadership ability can be seen between every pitch as she reassures her pitching
staff that she has their back. Though she isn’t always the loudest player on the field, she exudes a sense of quiet confidence according to Woodard. “She doesn’t necessarily have to talk about it,” Woodard said. “She’s got that quiet confidence to her that she tries to carry with her all the time.” Many factors of Smith’s playstyle have given the Bobcats’ roster an admirable and dependable teammate. When paired with her experience on the big stage, Smith’s ability to compassionately support teammates makes for an ideal comrade on the diamond and friend away from it, Mullins said. “I’m able to go and talk to her and voice my opinion and she supports me, or she’ll tell me, ‘Hey, that’s wrong,” Mullins said. “I think just her supporting me mentally on and off the field has been a blessing in disguise for me.”
PHOTO BY CARLY EARNEST
Texas State junior utility JJ Smith (25) watches the pitch while on first against Sam Houston State, Tuesday, April. 11, 2023 at Bobcat Softball Stadium.